Excavating apparatus



March 25, 1958 E. E. DORKINS 2,828,038

EXCAVATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

Evan E. Dork/n8 ATTORNEYS.

E. E. DORKINS EXCAVATING APPARATUS March 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. {5, 1955 IN V EN TOR. fvan E. Dork/n5 W WWW.-

A TTORNEYS.

United States EXCAVATING APPARATUS Evan E. Dorkius, Ottawa, Kans., assignor, by mesne assignments, to L. A. Young Spring & Wire Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 3, 1955, Serial No. 526,261

3 Claims. (Cl. 214-510) This invention relates to excavating apparatus and .more particularly to an hydraulic clam-shell bucket or the like and the combination thereof with a back hoe boom mounted dipper arm.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a .novel excavating or material handling equipment which includes an hydraulically operated clam-shell bucketadjacent theend of a dipper arm of a back hoe structure; to i .such a clam-shell bucket wherein eachbucket section is both opened and closed by hydraulic pressure; and to .provide excavating or material .handling equipmentin- .cluding an hydraulically operated clam-shell bucket that jisstrong, durable and eificient in operation.

' Inaccomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, .the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompartying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clam-shell bucket and .back hoe structure assembled on the rear end of a tractor.

Pig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the boom, .dipper arm and clam-shell bucket.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the clam- .shell bucket and. mounting taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 4. I Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional -view through the clam- :srreu bucket and mounting taken on the line 4'4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5. is a substantially horizontal sectional view of the .clamshell bucket taken on the line 5-5, Fig.3.

.Relferring more in detail to the drawings:

1 generally designates a back hoe structure mounted ona tractor 2, the back hoe including a support structure '3. fixed'to the tractor frame, a vertical post 4 carried on the support structure, a boom 5 pivotally mounted as at 6 on :the vertical post, a dipper arm 7 pivotally mounted on a pin 8 adjacent the outer extremity of the boom 5 and swingable thereon in response to operation of an extensible member. 'The extensible member is preferably hydraulic including an hydraulic cylinder 9,, having one end carried by the pin 8 and a piston rod 10 projecting from the other end of the cylinder and connected by a link 11 to the dipper arm 7.- The boom 5 is raised and lowered "by'an extensible member such as an hydraulic cylinder '12 having one end pivotally connected as at 13 to the post 4with a piston rod 14 extending from the other end of the cylinder and pivotally connected as at 15 to the boom 5.

"The support 3, post 4, boom 5, dipper arm 7 and bydraulicactuating members'for said structure aresubstanitially in-accordance with the structure shownand described in my co-pendingapplication onBack Hoe Exca- -vatorpSerial'No. '3'49,171, .filed April. 16, 195 3.

The dipper arm 7 preferably consists of spaced .side portions 16.,connected'by spaced transverse members .17 .to form a rigid arm structure. ,The link 11 is a rigid, non-extensible member having one end pivotally connected -.to the .dipper arm 7 intermediate the ,ends thereof by 'a pin 18. Iheother end of .said link extends through a slotted-portion 19 of the boom 5 and is pivotally .connected by a pin 20 to-one end of the extensible hydraulic member consisting of (the cylinderi9 and piston rod 10, the extensible hydraulic member being arranged inside of a box-like boom5 with rollers 21 mounted on thepin '20 and havingyrolling engagement with the inner surface .ofthe boom. Thearrangement of the extensible member consisting, of the cylinder 9 and piston rod 10, .lin 11 and dipper arm 7 is suchthat extension of the extensible member movesthe pin 20 thereofjtoward the lowerend ,of

thelboorn and through the connection of the link 11 with the dipper .arm 7 swings said dipper arm towards said boom and contraction of the extensible member moves the pin 20 toward theouter end of the boom whereby the link '11 causes the dipper arm to swing away from the boom.

Thetarrangement of the cylinder Hand-rod 146s; such .that it forms an extensiblevhydraulic member whereupon the extension.thereofjlowers the outer end ,of the boorn andcontraction thereof ,swings the boom upwardly on ithe ,pin 16. Alsogthepost 4 is'so arranged that itmaybe rotated to swing the boom laterally asdesired. Each of thehydraulic cylinders or rams is connected ,to an; -hy- .draulic pressure circuit under control of operator actuated valves wherebywhen fluid pressure is applied to one end of:a cylindertfluid is discharged from the otherend and fluid pressure may be applied to holdthe piston inrelated position in :themespective cylinder.

A clam-shell bucket 22 is swingably mounted adjacent :the end23 of the dipperarmlTremote from the :boom 5.

In theillustrated. structure, the ,clamrshell bucket assembly .22 includes a supporting head 2,4.which carries substantiallyidentical bucket sections 25 and is fixed on 'agbucket arm 26 which is swingablymounted on a pin 27 adjacent the end of the dipper arm 7. The bucket arm 26 preferably .consists of'a sleeve 28 rotatably mounted on the pin 27 with spaced plates 29 fixed tothesleeve 28 and extending therefrom, said plates beingrsubstantially per.-

pendicular to the axis of'the pin, 27. The plates 29 are arranged whereby they form ears 3.0 which are pivotally connected by a pin 31 to oneendofa link. ,32 the other end of the link being pivotallytconnected by a pin 35 to one end of a lever 34 which has i'tsother end. pivotally mounted on a pin 35 carried by the ,dipp.er;arm 7 intermediate the pins 18 and 27.

The lever 34 is connected by an extensiblemember 36 to the upper end or. boom end of the dipper arm 7. In the illustrated structure, the extensiblemember consists of a cylinder 38 having one'end pivotally connectedto the dipper arm by a pin 39 and a piston rodi40 extending from the other end of the cylinder and pivotallyconnected to the lever 34 by a pin 41 adjacent the pin 33 whereby extension of the extensible member swings the lever 34 toward the outer end of the dipper arm, and swings the bucket arm toward the boom, and contraction of. the extensible member reverses the'aetion to swing the' bucket arm away from the boom. The extensible member 36. is preferably hydraulic apparatus connected in an hydraulic circuit and operable in responseto operator control valves mounted on the tractor. z

The bucket arm 26 includes a plate .-42.fixed to rthe spaced plates 29 in spaced relationtotheears 30 and pin 27. The supporting head includes .a plate...43zwhich is relation with the bucket arm plate 142. :fipaced ,-p1a.tes"45 are? ffixed to the. p1ate-,.43-;andi extend therefrom and carry secured by suitable, fastening devices-".44; in faceto face spaced sleeves 46 at the ends thereof remote from the plate 43, the sleeeves 46 being parallel and also substantially parallel to the axis of the pin 27 whereby said sleeves 46 serve as bearings to'pivotally' mount the bucket sections 25 as later described. Suitable gusset plates-47 or ribs are arranged relative to the plate .43 and plates '45 to form a rigid structure.

r The bucket sections 25 may be constructed in any preferred manner and of any size to suit the character of the work being done, and in the illustrated structure each bucket sectionincludes an arcuate bottom 48 connected to sides 49 having edges "convergingfrom the bottom with the edges of eachre'mote from the other bucket section provided with an inturned flange 51 to strengthen the sides of the bucket sections- 'The ends of the sides 49 of each bucket sectionremote from the to a shaft 52 which is preferably tubular and extends through and is rotatably mounted in'the respective sleeve 46 to rotatably mount the bucket section thereon. Collars 53 are fixed to the shafts 52 at each end of the respective sleeves 46 to limit lateral movement of the bucket sections relative to the supporting head;

Ejector plates 54 are fixedto the respective sleeves 46 and plates 45 of the supporting head and extend therefrom in substantially parallel relation to the edges 51 of the bucket sections when the bucket sections are slightly open, the plates 54 being of suitable length whereby the outer edges 55 thereof clear the bottom 48 when therespective bucket sections are swungon the axis of the respective sleeve 46. The plates 54 are substantially less in width than the width of the bucket sections which are open at the top edges between the flanges 51. In the illustrated structure, the plates are approximately one-third the width of the bucket sections and it has been found that such width is effective in aiding in cleaning of the bucket sections; however, the plates may be p wider if desired.

Teeth 56 are secured in spaced relation along the forward or adjacent edges 57 of the bottom members 48 of each of the bottom sections 25, particularly when the bucket sections are to be used for digging purposes. The teeth 56 on one bucket section are arranged to extend between the teeth of the other bucket section, the teeth preferably each including a flange member 58 secured to the bottom member 43 and having a depending portion 59 terminating in forwardly extending tooth portions 60 7 whereby said teeth-project beyond the forward edge 57 of the respective bucket section. The forward edges 61 of the sides 49 of the respectivebucket sections are sharpened and the side walls 49 are inclined whereby they converge slightly inwardly to provide cutting clearance at the side of each bucket section.

rod 69 extending from said end and pivotally connected 4 by the respective bucket section by a pin 70 arranged between spaced arms 71 having ends connected to the In the illustrated structure, one of the.

bucket bottom 48 and shaft 52 respectively, .the spaced arms 71 being adjacent to one side of the respective ejector plate 54 and whereby the axes of the shaft 52 and pin70 are substantially on a plane. defined by the flanges 51. The other bucket section is operated by the H other extensible means 66 which includes a cylinder 72 having an end 73 fixed to the collar 65 with a piston lrod 74 extendingfrom the end 73 and pivotally connected. to the respective bucket section by a pin 75 to spaced arms '76 having its ends connected to the bucket bottom and theshaft152respectively, the arms 76 being arranged on the opposite end of the sleeves 46 to the arms 71'. Eachof the cylinders 61and 72 are individ-= ually connected to hydraulic control valves arranged for operation by an operator whereby fluid pressure can be selectively introduced in one end of the cylinder and exhausted from the other for movement of the respective bucket section in one direction and the fluid pressure introduced to said otherend of the cylinder and exhausted from said one end or the fluid pressure retained in the cylinder for holding the bucket section in selected position whereby each of the bucket sections are individually operated or may be operated sele tively as desired.

In using a structure constructed and assembled as described the boom 5 is moved through the hydraulic apparatus-12 to raise and lower said boom and hydraulic and selected hydraulic apparatus is operated by selectively applying fluid pressureto the cylinders 9, 12 and 38 to move the bucket assembly to efl'ect proper digging and filling of the bucket sections. Then fluid pressure is applied to one or-b'oth of the cylinders 67 and 72 to move the bucket sections 25 to close same and retain the material therein. The boom 5 is then raised and swung over an area in which the material is to be deposited and again hydraulic fluid is applied to the cylinders 67 and 72 selectively to move the bucket sections and effect opening of the bucket for dropping material therefrom.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and all of 'such changes are'contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims;

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.*In1a" material handling "machine, having a boom and a dipper arm pivotally mounted thereon'for swinging movement of the arm in an arc'from the boom, a bucket arm pivotally mounted on the end of the dipper arm remote from the boom for swinging. movement in an are from the dipper arm,'a lever pivotally mounted on the dipper arm for swinging movement relative thereto, means operatively connecting'the lever and bucket arm for swinging said bucket arm in response to swinging movement of said lever, means on the dipper arm and operatively connected with the lever for effecting swinging movement of the lever and bucket arm, a pair of clam-shell bucket sections, Vmeans pivotally mounting each clam-shell'bucket section separately on the bucket arm for individual swinging movement of each bucket section about axes substantially parallel to the axis of swinging movement of the bucket arm, an extensible means for each bucket section, means pivotally mounting one end portion of the respective extensible means won the bucket arm, and means pivotally connecting the other end portion of the respective extensible means to the respective bucket section whereby opening and closing movement is selectively imparted to therespective bucket sections. in response to extension and contraction of the respective extensible means.

2. In a material handling machine, a support, an elongated boom swingably mounted on the support for raising and lower-ing movement of said boom, a dipper arm pivotally mounted on the boom adjacent the end thereof remote from the support for swinging movement of the arm in an are from the boom, extensible means operatively connected with the boomand dipper arm for selectively effecting swinging movement of the boom and dipper arm, a bucket arm pivotally mounted on the end of the dipper arm' remote from the boom for swinging movement in an are from the dipper arm, a lever having one end pivotally mounted on the dipper arm adjacent thebucket arm for swinging movement "inj an are from said dipper arm, means operatively connecting the lever and bucket arm, means on the dipper arm and operatively connected with the lever for effecting swinging movement of the lever and bucket arm, a pair of clamshell bucket sections, means pivotally mounting each clam-shell bucket section separately on the bucket arm for individual swinging movement of each bucket section about axes substantially parallel to the axis of swinging movement of the bucket arm, an extensible means for each bucket section, means pivotally mounting one end portion ofthe respective extensible means on the bucket arm, and means pivotally connecting the other end portion of the respective extensible means to the respective bucket section whereby opening and closing movement is selectively imparted to the respective bucket sections in response to extension and contraction of the respective extensible means.

3. In a material handling machine, a support, an elongated boom carried on the support, an hydraulic ram having ends pivotally connected to the boom and support for raising and lowering the boom in response to extension and contraction of the hydraulic ram, a dipper arm pivotally mounted on the boom adjacent the end thereof remote from the support for swinging movement of the 'arm in an are from the boom, an extensible means carried by the boom, means connecting the extensible means with the dipper arm for effecting swinging movement of said arm in response to extension and contraction of said extensible means, a bucket arm pivotally mounted on the end of the dipper arm remote from the boom for swinging movement in an are from the dipper arm, a lever having one end pivotally mounted on the dipper arm adjacent the bucket arm for swinging movement of said lever, a stiff link having ends pivotally connected with the lever and bucket arm for swinging movement of the bucket arm in response to swinging movement of the lever, an hydraulic extensible means having one end pivotally connected with the dipper arm remotely of the bucket arm and the other end pivotally connected with the lever in spaced relation to the pivotal mounting thereof for effecting swinging movement of the lever and bucket arm in response to extension and contraction of said hydraulic extensible means, a clam-shell carried by said bucket arm, said clam-shell bucket including, a supporting head fixed to the bucket arm, a pair of bucket sections, means pivotally mounting each bucket section separately on the supporting head for individual swinging movement about axes substantially parallel to the pivotal mounting of the bucket arm, an hydraulic ram for each bucket section, means pivotally mounting one portion of each of the rams on the supporting head, means pivotally connecting the other portion of the hydraulic ram to the respective bucket section whereby opening and closing movement is selectively imparted to the respective bucket sections in response to extension of the hydraulic rams, and ejector plates fixed on the supporting head adjacent the rearward portion of the bucket sections when said bucket sections are in closed position whereby swinging movement of the bucket sections to open position causes the ejector plates to force material from the respective bucket sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 198,957 Symonds Jan. 8, 1878 771,440 McKay et a1 Oct. 4, 1904 1,162,740 Bathrick Dec. 7, 1915 2,007,704 Botten July 9, 1935 2,314,395 Harrington Mar. 23, 1943 2,356,255 Litchtenberg Aug. 22, 1944 2,678,741 Pilch May 18, 1954 2,702,137 Ives Feb. 15, 1955 2,725,996 Britton Dec. 6, 1955 2,731,163 Wills et al Jan. 17, 1956 

